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Dress
Dress, American (Boston, MA); fabric English
about 1735, restyled 1763
Object Place: MA, United States
Medium/Technique
Silk; brocaded plain weave
Dimensions
136.52 cm (53 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Miss Helen L. Campbell
Accession Number1990.513a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionRemodeled 1763. Silk: England (Spitalfields), design about 1740. Dark green silk with polychrome brocaded design of flowers, leaves, branches and fruit. Mid-18th century linen bobbin lace stitched inside sleeve flounces and around neck. Open robe à l'anglaise and matching petticoat with deep flounce. Believed to have been worn by Mary Waters of Salem at her marriage to Anthony Sigourney of Boston in 1740. Also worn by their daughter, also named Mary Waters, for her marriage to James Butler in 1763. (Worn with 1990.514a, b). Condition: Petticoat good but fragile. Over dress (robe): good condition; left shoulder seam unstitched, back neck edge extremely worn.
Provenance1740, worn by Mary Waters, Salem, MA at her marriage to Anthony Sigourney of Boston, MA; 1763, worn by their daughter, also named Mary Waters, for her marriage to James Butler; by 1892, by inheritance to Miss Helen. L. Campbell; June 6, 1892, lent by Miss Campbell to the MFA; 1990, accessioned by MFA (October 24, 1990).